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We had a short but busy first week back here in 1-1. Read all about our week below!

Literacy

This week, our close reading lessons focused on the book, The Mitten. We read two different versions, one by Alvin Tresselt and the other by Jan Brett. The children worked with comparing and contrasting the two versions. They identified the characters and the setting. At the end of the week, they chose their favorite version and wrote about why it was their favorite. Then, they illustrated their favorite part and glued their two mittens together with string. Their projects are on display in the hallway.

Next week, we will be taking a short break from guided reading groups. I will be assessing each child’s reading fluency. The children will be doing their winter CBM, how many words they can correctly read in one minute on a first grade passage. I will begin guided reading groups as soon as I have had time to meet with each child individually.

Writing:

This week, we started our new writing unit on How-To Writing. The children took turns acting out examples of how to do things in the classroom. They started by listing the materials needed and then they walked the class through the steps using transition words.

Together as a class, we wrote a How-To paper titled, How To Build A Snowman. The children brainstormed a list of materials needed to build a snowman and then using transition words they wrote down the steps. Next week, the children will come up with their own How-To writing topic. This weekend, help your child come up with some ideas of what they would like to write their How-To piece on. 

New Year’s Resolutions

The children also worked on writing New Year’s Resolutions. They came up with two or three goals they have for the new year and wrote them down. They worked very hard on their writing and came up with some wonderful resolutions!

iPads

This month, we have a class set of iPads in the classroom. The children will be using them to enhance their learning. Next week, the children will work together to come up with our iPad rules. We will also incorporate the iPads into our math, literacy, and science lessons. Stay tuned to see how we use the iPads this month.

Math 

In Math, we started Unit 5. The children worked with base-10 blocks to model whole numbers less than 100. They also identified whole numbers modeled by base-10 blocks. They exchanged base-10 cubes and longs to show different representations of the same numbers. On Tuesday, the children worked with place value on their calculators and number grids. They investigated place-value digit patterns. 

Science

This week, we started our new science unit on magnets. This week’s lesson, focused on exploring what happens to a magnetic object when it is placed close to a magnet. The scientists learned that a magnet causes a push or pull (force). 

Happy Birthday

On Wednesday we celebrated Ian’s birthday and on Thursday we celebrated Henry’s birthday. Happy Birthday Ian and Henry!

Notes: 

-Congratulations to all my 1-1 Winter Reading Challenge participants. I am so proud of all the reading you did over winter break. Thank you for coming to celebrate with me, I hope you enjoyed your lunch bunch fun!

Have a great rest of the weekend!